Humid subtropical
Helena, Alabama
Shelby County, Alabama · Population 21k · 430 ft elevation
Living in Helena
Helena has a humid subtropical climate: very hot summers (July highs around 92°F) and mild winters (January lows around 35°F).
Precipitation is very wet at about 56″ a year, and it sees only a dusting of snow (1″ a season).
Skies are sunny (65% of possible sunshine). Humidity is a fact of life: about 90 muggy days a year.
Air quality is good: a median AQI of 36 and virtually no unhealthy-air days.
Helena at a glance
- Population
- 21k
- Elevation
- 430 ft
- Average daily high
- 75°F76th percentile
- Average daily low
- 53°F79th percentile
- Annual precipitation
- 56″90th percentile
- Annual snowfall
- 1″25th percentile
- Sunshine hours per year
- 2,927 hrs60th percentile
- Median AQI
- 3616th percentile
- Median home value
- $293k56th percentile
- Median rent
- $1,420/mo64th percentile
- Median household income
- $110k80th percentile
- Property tax rate
- 0.44%5th percentile
- Top state income-tax rate
- 5.0%
- Sales tax (state + local)
- 9.4%
- Unemployment rate
- 2.1%
- Homes with broadband
- 96%82th percentile
- Walkability index
- 6.923th percentile
- Average commute
- 31 min
- Math proficiency (8th grade)
- 47%52th percentile
- Reading proficiency (8th grade)
- 57%
- Violent crime rate
- 76 per 100k24th percentile
- Property crime rate
- 391 per 100k
- Overall natural-hazard risk
- 9048th percentile
- Outdoor access
- 4746th percentile
- Public land within 10 miles
- 4%
- Public land within 30 miles
- 2%
- Mountain relief within 30 miles
- 427 ft
Climate by month
| Month | High | Low | Precipitation | Snow | Sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 35°F | 5.1″ | 0.4″ | 187 hrs |
| Feb | 60°F | 38°F | 5.6″ | — | 162 hrs |
| Mar | 68°F | 45°F | 5.3″ | 0.7″ | 220 hrs |
| Apr | 76°F | 51°F | 5.2″ | — | 266 hrs |
| May | 84°F | 61°F | 4.2″ | — | 299 hrs |
| Jun | 90°F | 68°F | 4.2″ | — | 303 hrs |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 4.8″ | — | 311 hrs |
| Aug | 92°F | 70°F | 4.4″ | — | 294 hrs |
| Sep | 87°F | 65°F | 3.9″ | — | 264 hrs |
| Oct | 77°F | 53°F | 3.6″ | — | 243 hrs |
| Nov | 65°F | 42°F | 4.7″ | — | 209 hrs |
| Dec | 57°F | 37°F | 4.7″ | 0.1″ | 169 hrs |
Near Helena
- Alabaster, AL · 34k
- Hoover, AL · 92k
- Bessemer, AL · 26k
- Pelham, AL · 25k
- McCalla, AL · 14k
- Indian Springs Village, AL · 2.6k
- Montevallo, AL · 7.4k
- Brighton, AL · 3.1k
Largest places in Alabama
- Huntsville, AL · 219k
- Birmingham, AL · 199k
- Montgomery, AL · 198k
- Mobile, AL · 185k
- Tuscaloosa, AL · 108k
- Auburn, AL · 79k
- Dothan, AL · 71k
- Madison, AL · 58k
Sources: NOAA climate normals, NASA POWER, EPA air quality, U.S. Census Bureau, FEMA, FBI, EPA walkability and EDFacts. Methodology